America\’s opioid crisis behind \’shocking\’ two-year drop in life expectancy![\"\"](\"http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2017/12/22/TELEMMGLPICT000149829222_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQfyf2A9a6I9YchsjMeADBa08.jpeg?imwidth=450\")
Boston paramedics face front lines of U.S. opioid crisis CREDIT: REUTERS Rozina Sabur, Washington DECEMBER 2017
America\’s worsening opioid crisis has caused life expectancy to fall for the second year running for the first time in more than half a century.
The average life expectancy in the US is now 78.6 years – down by 0.1 years, figures from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) found.
It is the first consecutive drop in life expectancy since 1962-63 and surpasses the previous one-year dip in 1993 at the height of the Aids epidemic.
America\’s opioid addiction crisis – caused by the over-prescription of opioid-based painkillers – has been blamed for the trend. For complete Story click here Lifespan
